Voice to Text for Final Cut Pro
Typing slows down your editing workflow. Whether you're adding timeline markers to note edit points, writing captions for accessibility, documenting project notes for collaborators, organizing clips into keyword collections, or creating titles for your sequences, keyboard entry pulls your focus from the visual story you're crafting. Blurt lets you speak directly into Final Cut Pro. Hold a button, say what you want to type, release. Text appears instantly at your cursor. Your hands stay on the timeline, your mind stays on the edit.
The Typing Problem
Timeline markers become a chore instead of a tool
You're reviewing a rough cut and need to mark dozens of notes for revision. Pacing feels off at 2:34. Audio dip at 5:12. Color shift at 7:45. Each marker requires pressing M, then typing your note, then clicking away. By the time you've typed 'Consider tightening this transition,' you've lost your viewing rhythm. The markers that should help you organize become obstacles to getting through your review.
Captioning a 30-minute video takes longer than editing it
Your client needs captions for accessibility compliance. You know exactly what was said. You watched it fifty times during the edit. But typing out every word, syncing to timecode, fixing punctuation. A 30-minute video becomes four hours of transcription work. You're a video editor, not a typist, but captioning makes you feel like one.
Project notes get skipped because documentation is exhausting
The project needs to be handed off to another editor for finishing. They need to know why you made certain choices. This cut uses B-roll to cover a jump cut. Music drops here to emphasize dialogue. Color grade is temporary pending client approval. You could explain it in a two-minute voice memo, but typing it all out would take twenty minutes. So you leave sparse notes and hope they call with questions.
Keyword collections stay generic because naming takes too long
You've imported 200 clips from a documentary shoot. Each needs keywords for organization. Interview John discussing childhood. B-roll city streets morning. Archival photos family 1960s. Typing descriptive keywords for every clip is hours of work. Your keyword collections end up as 'Interview 1' and 'B-roll' because proper naming would double your prep time.
Titles require constant switching between creative and clerical work
Your video needs lower thirds, chapter titles, and end credits. Each text element pulls you out of the edit. Click into the title, type the name, adjust the timing, move to the next one. Twenty lower thirds means twenty interruptions. The titles that should polish your video become the most tedious part of finishing it.
How It Works
Blurt works anywhere you can type in Final Cut Pro. Timeline markers, caption text, project notes, keyword names, title content, and any inspector field. If there's a cursor, Blurt works.
Click into any text field
Marker note, caption, keyword collection, title generator, inspector field. Anywhere you'd normally type in Final Cut Pro.
Hold your hotkey and speak
Press your chosen shortcut and say what you want to type. Blurt handles punctuation automatically.
Release and continue editing
Text appears instantly. No delay, no extra steps. Your hands never left the edit.
Real Scenarios
Timeline markers during review sessions
You're watching your rough cut with the client's notes. They want the opening tightened, a reaction shot added at the midpoint, and the ending extended. Press M to create a marker, hold your hotkey, say 'Client wants opening montage reduced by 10 seconds, feels too slow.' Next note. 'Add reaction shot of interviewer here, check B-roll selects.' You've captured 15 notes in the time it would take to type three. Review stays focused on watching, not typing.
Caption creation without the typing marathon
Your documentary needs captions for festival submission. You're in the caption editor, timecode set. Hold your hotkey, speak the dialogue as you hear it. 'I never thought I would see this place again.' Move to the next caption. 'My grandmother used to tell stories about the old neighborhood.' Caption creation becomes speaking along with the video instead of laboriously typing after it.
Project notes that actually explain your decisions
The colorist needs to understand your edit before grading. Open the project notes, hold your hotkey, speak: 'Scene three uses available light for naturalistic feel, boost shadows if needed. Scene seven is meant to feel cold and clinical, lean into the blue. Music licensing pending on track two, may need replacement.' Complete documentation in one breath instead of fifteen minutes of typing.
Keyword collections that make media findable
You've ingested 300 clips from a corporate shoot. Select a batch of interview clips, create a keyword collection, hold your hotkey: 'CEO interview discussing company history and founding story.' Next batch. 'Product demonstration close-up shots with hand models.' Your media library becomes searchable because naming finally doesn't take longer than watching.
Lower thirds and titles at speaking speed
Your video needs 25 lower thirds identifying interview subjects. Add a title, click into the name field, hold your hotkey, say 'Dr. Sarah Chen, Director of Research.' Next title. 'Marcus Thompson, Lead Engineer.' Twenty-five lower thirds in five minutes instead of thirty. The finishing work that should take an hour actually takes an hour.
Clip notes during logging sessions
You're logging interview footage before the edit begins. Each clip needs notes about content. Select the clip, open the inspector, hold your hotkey: 'Strong emotional moment discussing loss of family business. Usable from timecode 1:23 to 2:45. Audio clean except for HVAC hum.' Your logging sessions capture context that makes editing faster later.
Revision notes for remote collaboration
Your assistant editor needs to know what changes to make. Add markers with detailed instructions. Hold your hotkey: 'Replace this shot with the alternate take from card three, better framing on the product.' Next marker. 'Extend music bed by four seconds to cover new footage.' Clear direction without scheduling a call or writing a document.
Why Final Cut Pro editors choose Blurt over built-in dictation for editing workflow
| Blurt | macOS Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Single customizable hotkey | Double-tap Fn or click microphone |
| Response time | Text appears in under 500ms | 2-3 second delay, sometimes fails silently |
| Video terminology | Handles 'timecode', 'J-cut', 'LUT', 'keyframe' correctly | Struggles with editing and production terms |
| Workflow integration | Works without disrupting Final Cut Pro focus | System UI appears, breaks concentration |
| Reliability | Consistent transcription quality | Inconsistent, requires retries |
Frequently Asked Questions
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